DR KIM: I'd like to thank the people of Myanmar for the very warm welcome I've received today on my arrival. I'm a doctor by professional training so I was particularly pleased to have the opportunity... Show More + to visit the township hospital in in Hlaing Thar Yar with the minister of health, Dr Pe Thet Khin and to learn more about Myanmar's challenges on its path to universal health coverage.I believe that everyone should have access to affordable quality health care service and I'm very happy to learn that the government of Myanmar believes exactly the same thing.With less than two years to go until the Millennium Development Goals deadline we need to focus on extending access to vital services especially for poor women and children.No one should be forced into poverty or be forced to remain in poverty in order to pay for the health care they need.Today I'm happy to announce that the World Bank Group plans to invest US$2 billion to support key development priorities in Myanmar including dramati Show Less -

Thank you for coming to the closing press conference of the 2013 World Bank Group/IMF Annual Meetings.First, a big thank you to the hard-working staff at the World Bank Group, who have spent long hours... Show More + in preparing for these meetings, which drew 13,000 people from 185 countries.Second, far from Washington, I’d like to express our concern about reports in eastern India where Cyclone Phailin has made landfall. It is forecast to hit an area populated with 4.5 million people. Our thoughts go out to all those living in the cyclone’s path.Now, back to the Annual Meetings. I am very grateful for the support of the governors in unanimously endorsing our World Bank Group Strategy. For the first time in the history of our organization, we have a strategy that leverages the strengths of our entire organization – the Bank, the IFC, our private sector arm, and MIGA, which provides risk guarantees – and aligns all our work for a common purpose.That common purpose is our two goals, endorsed six month Show Less -

DR. KIM: [Inaudible progress] -- The services - Ministry of Health of the state have made available to the people of Bahia, that's the most impressive, to have free care, to be open to anyone... Show More + who needs care, to be so focused is a tremendous accomplishment.QUESTION: Do you see this project as an example for the other states in Brazil and why not other countries as well?DR. KIM: Absolutely. You know, the speed with which they've gotten the hospital built the fantastic quality of the services, and I took a very careful look. I'm a physician, I took a very careful look, and I was very impressed with what they have. You know, we've got to find a way to quickly improve health care services. We've got to find a way to get the incentives right both for health care systems and physicians, and this project is moving in a wonderful direction. We think that this public-private partnership could have tremendous benefits for the population. W Show Less -